During this show, we experimented with soliciting audience feedback with the “A Cookie for Your Thoughts” project.

The First Friday shows that have stuck with me were those that pulled me into the pieces and asked me to contribute. The main difficulty I’ve seen in creating more interactive shows is that many media don’t easily lend themselves to audience engagement.

“A Cookie for Your Thoughts” is exactly what it sounds like. We provided pens, index cards, and about eight dozen cookies, and asked audience members to jot down thoughts in exchange for a homemade cookie. We welcomed any feedback and received sketches, serious observations, lots of cookie-love, and everything in between. We hoped that asking for observations would encourage viewers to interact with the pieces on a deeper level than they would otherwise. We also hoped that the feedback would start conversations between friends and strangers alike. Take a look at the comments and judge for yourself.